Gov. Graham To Take `The Road To China`

July 28, 1985|By Ken Cummins

In the manner of those summer reels previewing fall shows, we bring you a coming attraction. Let`s call it The Road to China, starring none other than that governor with U.S. Senate stars in his eyes. You guessed it, Florida`s own Bob Graham.

On Oct. 19, Graham for the first time will journey to the land of the Great Wall for an 11-day trade mission.

According to Graham spokesman Pat Riordan, it will be a hard-working, hard- sell visit to the People`s Republic of China, as Graham tries to find Florida`s niche in this market of 1 billion communist consumers. Riordan bristled at any suggestion of a sightseeing agenda -- or at any notion that the trip seems well designed to fit the image of an internationally sophisticated future U.S. senator.

``Who would criticize (it)? . . . It`s an opportunity to penetrate one of the largest markets on earth,`` Riordan said. ``China has indicated an interest in buying high tech procedures and that sort of thing. Also we`d love to get in a market of that size for some of our agricultural products such as citrus or beef. And obviously, they have a lot of things they`d like to sell to us.``

Because the trip is official state business, taxpayers will pick up the tab. What it will cost, no one is saying yet. But Riordan noted that Graham already had planned to be in Japan Oct. 13-18 as part of his continuing series of trade missions there, which Riordan has credited for bringing companies like Sony to South Florida.

As for the China leg of the journey, Graham has been limited to an entourage of 20. That sounds like a lot, but evidently he`ll be bringing along state business leaders.